The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-22
CAUGHT In A HURRICANE
THE CITY OF SAVANNAH IN A
GREAT STORM OFF HATTERAS.

Back Again-No Serious Damage to
the Vessel-The Savannah aStaunch
Ship.
The steamship City of Savannah arrived
in port yesterday morning, from New York,
| looking none the worse after very event
full trip. She had just passed through one
of the heaviest storms of the many which
she has encountered, and she again proved
herself TO be a very staunch vessel She left
New York on Thursday afternoon, be-
| tween and O'clock, with twenty
passengers and a heavy cargo, besides
q considerable quantity of freight on deck,
consisting mainly Of cabbages and other
perishable stuff, which had been well dashed
and fastened to the deck before sailing.
Capt. Smith, her commander, says that
with the exception of its being cloudy he
encountered very pleasant weather all the
way down to Cape Hatteras with light
southerly winds. On Friday evening when
| nearing Hatteras the barometer was observed
to be falling rapidly, and the wind had shift
ed around to the southeast accompanied by
| sudden and successive rain squalls, which
| continued on through the night The
weather looked very ugly, and the barome-
ter fell TO %. The wind continually increas-
| ing, all hands were called on deck, and were
at once engaged in securing ropes and rig
ging, and otherwise preparing for the
coming storm. At about IL o'clock that
| night, the ship being some
where between twenty and
thirty miles to the southwark
of Hatteras, and about thirty-five miles off
shore, one of the hardest hurricanes that
have been encountered on the Atlantic
coast in recent years set in from the South
east. The steamer ran through the terrible
gale until about a. m, when she was hove
to for five hours, during which time the sea
was dashed into fury, presenting the ap-
pearance of vast field of driving snow.
The wind was simply terrific. 1t was
SO strong that it did not permit the waves
to raise very high, except at times when
they broke over the ship, and, coming
down on the deck, smashed skylights and
flooded the saloons. The deck freight was
looSened from its lashings and crates began
to burst open, the whole drifting about the
deck made it difficult for the crew to work
the ship. About this time the second mate,
Mr.. Porter, who was at the after end of the
snip securing lines, was struck by a
heavy sea, which came aboard and
washed him clear over the rail
to which he chung, and a returning wave
carried him back aboard. The first mate,
M. Nickerson, and two seamen were for
ward when terrific sea came over the
sides, carrying Fred. Anderson, one of the
seamen, and the fore hatch skylight with it,
until Anderson was jammed in between
some of the deck cargo and the
derrick. His left arm was wrenched
clear out of its socket He
had a very narrow escape from being car
ried overheard He was sent to the hospital
on reaching this city. The other sailor was
very badly cut in the hand and Mate Nick
h,1 La L. l.
the knee. During the height of the storm
the saloon cat held on to the carpet like
grim death with its paws, and kept up
pitiful howl This exhibition of the cat
had a terrible effect on one of the
passengers, an Augusta gentleman. The
danger of the storm was almost for
gotten by some of the passengers in observ-
ing the Augusta man, who, it was thought,
had gone daft" as one of the passengers
expressed it, Another of the passengers,
K. j. Meyer, a railroad contractor of Prem
ticeville, Ga, had the i'll luck TO lose his
watch and chain, draft for 50, 900 and a
note for $1,000.
The passengers, among whom were sew
eral ladies, behaved very well. About Z
O'Clock Saturday morning the wind shifted
around TO the southwest and the gale began
to aba , The ship was again started
the hurricane had entirely died out,
aud fine clear weather followed
with the exception of strong head winds
About $50 O'Clock Saturday morning the
steamship Tonawanda, from New York,
bound for this port was passed She had,
apparently. slight touch of the storm as
her foregatfs had been carried away, the
gaff being dashed to the forerigging. Other
than this she was, to all appearances, all
right, and will very likely arrive some time
to-day. The Savannah behaved magnif-
Gently throughout the storm. She is tight,
and suffered no damage to speak of, except
the smashing of skylights. The passengers,
to show their appreciation of the officers
and crew of the steamer, passed the follow
ing resolutions
STEAMSHIP CITY OF SAVANNAH
Aug. 81, 1887. {
Immediately after breakfast the passengers
assembled in the ships cabin. On notion
r. II. Flanders, of Macon Ga, was made Chair
man of the meeting, and S. G.. Brinkley, of
Augusta, Ga, Secretary. The chair stated the
object of the meeting to be to express our APP
probation of the heroic eXertions of the Cap
tain and the entire crew Of the City of Savan-
nah during the fearful storm of Friday night
The following committee was appointed to draft
suitable resolutions: William T. Christopher
S, g. Brinkley and A. s. Cohen. The committee
reported the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, on Friday night, August 10, the
steamship City of Savannah" rounding Cape
ftdtteftlS On hif SOUTHERN voyage, encountered
one of the most violent hurricanes on record
the wind blowing nearly all night at the rate of
seventy-five miles an hour the good ship being
often thrown on her beam ends, and swept from
stem to stern by mountain waves, daShing com
pletely over the hurricane deck and pilot house;
AND WHEREAS In the midst OF this rage and
battle of the elements death in dreadful shape
staring us in the face at every moment. Captain
Frederick Smith, and his faithful officers and
crew, maintained the most perfect presence of
mind, frequently risking their lives in heroic
and successful efforts to save the ship; there
fore, be it
Rssotucd, by the passengers on board the
City of Savannah assembled in the ship
cabin, Sunday morning, Aug. RI,
]. That we recognize and appreciate the
his officers, and crew, being fully assured that
the safety Of the ship aud or very lives are due
To their superior skill in managing the snip dur
ing the dreadful storm.
2. That we congratulate the Ocean Steamship
Company OF savannah ON having an officer so
efficient so brave aDd so devoted to duty as
Capt. Frederick Smith.
3. That we present the Captain gold headed
cane, suitably inscribed, as a token OF our high
appreciation o. his skin and bravery, and as an
evidence of our gratitude and esteem.
I. That copy of the3e resolutions be pre-
sented to the steamship City OF Savannah"
publication
H. IL. FLANDERS Macon. Ga. Chairman.
$ q. BRiNNLEY, Augusta, Ga, Secretary
w. t. Christopher, 1opta3uma. ca; A. S.
Cohen, savannah; q. r.. Griffin, Windsor Fla;
James W. Wade. Quitinau, Ga. George X.
Robinson, Ocala, Fla; J. b. Hess. Jacksonvil,e,
Fla; Miss JOSIE Gilbert, Jacksonville, Fla;